Michigan Bus Accident Lawyers

When you take a bus, whether commercial or private, public transportation or a school bus, you entrust your well-being to the driver. You have a right to a reasonable expectation that you will get where you want to go with a high degree of safety. Unfortunately, bus accidents happen every day across the country, and because of the sheer size and mass of these vehicles, bus accident injuries and property damage can be catastrophic. In 2021 alone, Michigan saw a total of 14,972 bus, commercial vehicle, and truck accidents with over 100 fatalities among them.

While this is less than the number of car accidents, it is worth noting that there are far fewer buses on the roadways than there are cars. If you have suffered serious injuries in a bus accident, the team of experienced and passionate Michigan bus crash lawyers at Matz Injury Law are ready to help you fight for compensation for the injuries you have suffered.

What Are the Benefits of Contacting a Michigan Bus Accident Lawyer?

Personal injury attorneys experienced in bus crash cases know the process for handling these sorts of accidents. They know how to navigate between insurance companies, the bus company, and city governments. They understand how cases differ between city buses, charter buses, and other types of commercial transportation. They understand how to fight for full compensation for bus accident victims and how bus accidents differ from other types of motor vehicle accidents like car accidents.

The right personal injury law office like Matz Injury Law can also help you avoid critical errors in your injury claim, like making incriminating statements to insurance companies, failing to properly notify regional transportation authorities in time, or missing the statute of limitations to file your claim. They can be your greatest ally when you need one the most.

Michigan bus accident attorneys also understand how these injury cases differ from auto accidents and other types of accident cases. You will have to navigate multiple insurance providers, multiple companies, and sometimes even the city and its claims of municipal immunity, as well as the bus driver and the fault they may share.

In addition, no-fault insurance benefits, also known as personal injury protection or PIP benefits, in this area of personal injury law can grow quite confusing. Your attorney can help investigate and verify the governmental entities, insurance policy coverage, and other factors involved in your case to get you the best settlement possible. If you need legal advice about Michigan law after a bus accident, contact Matz Injury Law at 866-226-6833 or fill out our online form to schedule a free consultation today.

What Is the Difference Between a Private and Public Bus Crash in Michigan?

The factors involved in bus accidents involving private buses versus public transportation are stark. Each can involve different parties and insurance providers. In public bus accidents, the government is responsible, but you must deal with claims of immunity. Depending on the type of bus, sometimes the bus driver can be sued, and sometimes they cannot. Having a personal injury lawyer to help you sort out this difference can be vital to getting the compensation you deserve.

Private Buses

Private buses are generally owned by private companies. In these cases, injured bus passengers or other victims can sue both the bus driver and the bus company for negligence. Under Michigan law, filing a lawsuit requires notifying the authority no later than 60 days from the accident. Your attorney can help you with this notice.

Public Buses

These buses are generally owned by a municipality or government entity. In this case, you cannot sue the driver unless you can prove that gross negligence was involved, such as the driver being under the influence of alcohol or another substance, texting and driving, or being otherwise egregiously reckless.

Most often, the government will pay the claim, but frequently, city and local municipalities will claim immunity from lawsuits. It becomes essential to have a bus accident lawyer in your corner in these cases.

What Types of Injuries are Common in Bus Accidents?

Because of the size of the vehicles, their mass, the ease of buses tipping over, and the lack of passive restraints (seat belts) for riders, bus accidents can result in a wide range of severe injuries. These can include back and neck injuries, broken bones, traumatic brain injury, cuts and bruises, and even wrongful death.

Spinal Cord Injuries

Injuries to the spinal cord can cause a loss of motion and strength, complete or partial paralysis, and even issues with internal systems like your heart and lungs. Your spinal cord is the area where every signal from your brain travels to your body and back, so injury to this area can have lifelong consequences and cause permanent, crippling disabilities.

Neck Injuries

Neck injuries can also be spinal injuries, but this area of the body can also suffer soft tissue injuries like whiplash, which can be debilitating and last for months, years, or even for life. A broken neck can even result in death.

Broken Bones

Broken bones usually heal within weeks or months, but sometimes they are severe enough that they never properly heal. They can leave you with a disability for life. In some cases, broken bones can require amputation.

Traumatic Brain Injury

Traumatic brain injury, or TBI, can lead to a severe disability. You may suffer all kinds of mental health issues from a brain injury, including depression, mood swings, cognitive difficulties, and even hallucinations. It can result in a lack of ability to control your limbs or even cardiovascular problems.

Cuts and Bruises

While most cuts and bruises are superficial, bruises to internal organs can be life-threatening. A cut to a major vein or artery can also be deadly. Sometimes, infected cuts or cuts that are very deep can result in the loss of a limb, infections, or lifelong nerve damage.

Wrongful Death

Wrongful death means that due to someone else’s negligent behavior, a family member or close loved one dies. In these cases, you may be able to sue for your losses.

What Are Common Causes of Bus Accidents in Michigan?

Many different reasons account for why bus accidents happen. Depending on the specific circumstances, the cause of the accident can come into play in determining how much your settlement is worth. A few common causes include reckless driving, poor road conditions, blind spots, and a driver’s lack of experience.

Reckless Driving

Reckless driving is the core of most motor vehicle accidents. It lies at the heart of negligence, which means that the bus driver behaved in a way that was so irresponsible that no reasonable person would behave that way, that their behavior led in some way to the accident, and that you were injured as a direct result.

Road Conditions

Poor road conditions can include issues ranging from potholes to gravel, oil spills on the road, and even sudden sinkholes. It is the responsibility of the bus driver to adapt to poor road conditions and be aware of their surroundings to avoid these risks when they occur.

Blind Spots

Buses have large blind spots. Bus drivers are trained to be aware of these blind spots and the steps they must take to overcome them. If they fail to do so and an accident results, the victims can be compensated for their injuries.

Lack of Experience

Like all drivers, bus drivers get better as they progress through their careers. New drivers sometimes make crucial errors. Lack of experience, however, is not an excuse for negligence, and even a new bus driver can be held accountable for the mistakes they make.

What Kind of Compensation Can I Seek in a Michigan Bus Crash?

You may be able to receive a variety of no-fault or PIP benefits in a bus crash, even if you were a passenger and do not have no-fault auto insurance of your own. The types of benefits you can receive include economic damages that are easy to value, and noneconomic compensation, which is more subjective.

Lost Wages

Lost wages cover all the wages you have already lost from being unable to work. You may also be compensated for wages you would have earned in the future, and even potential retirement benefits you have lost.

Medical Expenses

You can be compensated for all of your doctor’s visits and medical treatment. This includes medication, therapy, procedures, transportation to appointments, and in-home care related to your injuries.

Pain and Suffering

Pain and suffering is a blanket term for noneconomic damages. It covers everything from PTSD and emotional trauma to loss of consortium, loss of ability to take pleasure in life, lost comfort and support, and physical pain.

Wrongful Death

In a wrongful death case, you may be able to collect the above forms of compensation, plus funeral and burial expenses.

How Long Will It Take to Settle a Bus Accident in Michigan?

Each case is different, and there is no definitive answer to this question. There are, however, some factors that are important in determining the duration. These include the extent of your injuries, how long it takes you to achieve a state of maximum medical improvement, and the type of bus involved in the accident.

A Bus Accident Is Not Your Fault. Hold the City Accountable

If you have been hurt in a bus accident in Michigan, no city office or bus company should stand in the way of your right to compensation. Matz Injury Law has put thousands of miles under our belts representing victims of bus and truck accidents in well-traveled cities such as Grand Rapids, Lansing, Southfield, Ann Arbor, Wayne County, and others.

Contact the law offices of Matz Injury Law today at 866-226-6833 or use our online contact form to schedule your consultation today. There is no disclaimer and no obligation. You will not owe us a dime in legal fees unless we win your case.